Today's News: Our Take - Switched at Birth Season 2: Angelo's Millions, a New Bay, New Love for Daphne and More!

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Jan 6, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 6, 2013 at 11:56 PM

TV Guide

Season 2 of Switched at Birth can be summed up in two words for just about every character: New beginnings.

When Season 1 left off, Bay (Vanessa Marano) had finally come to her senses after breaking the rules (and the law), Daphne (Katie Leclerc) was left heartbroken by her first love, and the Kennish' trial came to an end naming them victors in the switched at birth case, but rewarding them just a dollar in compensation and Angelo (Gilles Marini) a whopping 5 million. As Season 2 picks up (Jan. 7 at 8/7c on ABC Family), every character will essentially be starting over, but some will struggle more than others.

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"Daphne kind of lost herself and made choices I don't think she'd normally make, so she needs to find her footing again and find out what her priorities are and reevaluate herself," Leclerc told TVGuide.com. Adds Marano, "Season 2 is definitely a new Bay. She's following rules, she's doing well in school. We've never seen her this way! I don't know how long it's going to last, but right now she's pulling it together."

So what other major changes are in store? Read on for more from the cast as well as creator and executive producer Lizzy Weiss.

Bay transfers ... to Carlton?!Yep, after Bay is hit a major blow at Buckner in the season premiere, she makes the decision to join Daphne and Emmett (Sean Berdy) at Carlton School for the Deaf. So how will Bay transition to speaking a language that isn't her first? "Bay is going to face many challenges going to Carlton -- the main thing being she's not deaf," Marano says. "That's going to be a big issue going into a brand new world with a brand new culture she thinks she knows a little bit about but really she's never fully immersed herself in as the outsider." Adds Weiss, "When there is a battleground for having hearing students at a deaf school, Daphne is going to be put in the middle."

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Another love interest for DaphneIt won't be long before Daphne picks up the pieces from her last relationship with a new one. "We really like to throw challenges at Daphne, particularly romantically," says Weiss. "In the first 10 episodes we're throwing her someone new and she's never dated anyone like this, and I wonder if fans who know Daphne well can guess what that means." Anyone else guess it's Travis?

Angelo's got millions ... and a baby on the way?Angelo doesn't waste time showing off his new dough, but also giving everyone some pretty lavish gifts, including a food truck for Daphne. One person who's not happy about this? John Kennish (D.W. Moffett). "There's a friction there because John worked so hard for all this money and here's this guy who's left this wreckage in his past and boom, God gives him a $5 million check, and that blows John's mind," Moffett says. As for the baby bomb dropped in the finale, Marini says, "This lady shows up there, and no one is happy about it. Is it his kid or not? We don't know yet."

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John tries a new careerLast season Kathryn (Lea Thompson) tested out new career waters, and this time around it's John's turn. "John decides to run for office in Kansas City, and that's going to bring marital friction [because] Kathryn is supposed to behave a certain way and doesn't always, and then you have a political campaign secrets get dug up," Moffett says.

Will Bay and Emmett finally rekindle romance?The end of Season 1 certainly did not leave the two on the best terms since Bay learned he cheated on her. And now that they're going to school together, they'll be in each other's presence more so than ever. But is Bay really ready to jump back in? "She's not ready, but he is," Marano says. Weiss adds, "When Bay goes to Carlton, it will appear to be a great thing for their relationship, but it will be more complicated than that. Their relationship was very intense and she's going to have to figure out if this the best time. We'll take them into new phases of friendship and other places, but it's not a straight shot of getting back together. "

Watch a clip from the premiere, airing Monday, Jan. 7 at 8/7c on ABC Family:

View original Switched at Birth Season 2: Angelo's Millions, a New Bay, New Love for Daphne and More! at TVGuide.com